Nord Express coaches LS Models

Very nice coaches. The junction body-roof is visible, but discreet and regular. One detail comes to spoil the good impression, it is the too great width and the little discretion of the (many) steps. Indeed, their width reduced to 1:1 is more than 3.2 m, for a UIC gauge of 3.15 m! This widening is probably explained by the need for inscription in curves.

The realization of these coaches still requires a hat trick, when you see the multitude of railings and accessories mounted.

The engraving of axle boxes is remarkable: there is not only the acronym Athermos, but the name the manufacturer below!

For once, LS Models has not been stingy in spare parts. We find not only detail parts: brake couplings, heating hoses, etc., but also and especially replacement parts: folded bellows, steps (that’s good!), aerators, handrails, buffers. Bravo!

This time, the Fleischmann Profi couplings can be easily mounted in the NEM box, forcing a little. On the other hand, I noticed derailments in large radius curve due to too tight buffers, whereas the passage in the same curve is normally with a space of about 0.5 mm between buffers. I suspect a random blocking of some drawbars in their guide.

Apart from the B¹¹tz (ex C¹¹) type treated on next page, all the other diagrams of Express Nord coaches were in low numbers. I wonder why LS Models has proposed two B⁹ for seven real units! They would have done better to replace one with a B¹¹. Or at least, in addition to the B¹¹, only issue a very typical B⁵D.

There are some contradictions of UIC numbers with the document opposite (source: Ferrovissime 73).

Moreover, I hardly found a picture of these rare coaches.

See:

• Loco-Revue Forum.
• gamos81.altervista.org for the reference list of issued Nord coach models.